Refusal of liberation, choosing the saints
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
कासया व्हावें जीतांचि मुक्त । सांडुनियां थीतें प्रेमसुख ॥1॥
वैष्णवांचा दास जाला नारायण । काय त्या मिळोन असे काम ॥ध्रु.॥
काय त्या गांठीचें पडलें सुटोन । उगला चि बैसोन धीरु धरीं ॥2॥
सुख आह्मांसाटीं केलें हें निर्माण । निद।व तो कोण हाणे लाता ॥3॥
तुका ह्मणे मज न लगे सायोज्यता । राहेन या संतां समागमें ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Why seek to be liberated while still alive, abandoning the settled joy of love? Narayana Himself has become the servant of the Vaishnavas; what remains to be accomplished by joining Him? What is there knotted in your bundle that needs untying? Simply sit still and hold your patience. This bliss was created for our sake; who but a fool would kick it away? Says Tuka, I do not want oneness with God. I would rather remain in the company of these saints.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Why want to be liberated while alive, throwing away the settled joy of love? Narayana Himself has become the servant of the Vaishnavas; what is left to gain by merging into Him? What knot in your bundle still needs untying? Just sit still and keep your patience. This joy was made for our sake; who but a fool would kick it away? Tuka says: I do not want oneness with God. I would rather stay in the company of these saints.
What it means
Tukaram is refusing the prize that most seekers chase. He turns down liberation-in-life and even final union with God, because both would mean leaving the living joy of loving devotion. He points out the reversal at the heart of bhakti: God Himself has become the servant of His devotees, so there is nothing higher to merge into. His advice is to stop straining as if some knot still needs untying, and simply rest in the love already given, a bliss made for the devotee's sake. Ending on the boldest note, he says he wants the company of the saints more than oneness with God itself.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
More in this theme →